Trade, harvest, and conservation of caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) in the Himalayas

2013 ◽  
Vol 159 ◽  
pp. 514-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uttam Babu Shrestha ◽  
Kamaljit S. Bawa
Keyword(s):  
Ophiocordyceps Sinensis ◽  
Caterpillar Fungus

Typification of Sphaeria sinensis to precisely fix the application of the name of the economically important Chinese caterpillar fungus, Ophiocordyceps sinensis

Taxon ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Li ◽  
Lan Jiang ◽  
David L. Hawksworth ◽  
Yong‐Hui Wang ◽  
Jiao‐Jiao Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ophiocordyceps Sinensis ◽  
Caterpillar Fungus

The intronic minisatellite OsMin1 within a serine protease gene in the Chinese caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis

2016 ◽  
Vol 100 (8) ◽  
pp. 3599-3610
Author(s):  
Yong-Jie Zhang ◽  
Jun-Xiu Hou ◽  
Shu Zhang ◽  
Georg Hausner ◽  
Xing-Zhong Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Serine Protease ◽  
Protease Gene ◽  
Ophiocordyceps Sinensis ◽  
Caterpillar Fungus ◽  
Serine Protease Gene

scholarly journals Biomass and Cordycepin Production by the Medicinal Mushroom Cordyceps militaris—A Review of Various Aspects and Recent Trends towards the Exploitation of a Valuable Fungus

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 986
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Kontogiannatos ◽  
Georgios Koutrotsios ◽  
Savvina Xekalaki ◽  
Georgios I. Zervakis
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Fruit Body ◽  
Cordyceps Militaris ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Ophiocordyceps Sinensis ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Significant Research ◽  
Caterpillar Fungus ◽  
Recent Trends ◽  
Large Scale Cultivation

Cordyceps militaris is an entomopathogenic ascomycete with similar pharmacological importance to that of the wild caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis. C. militaris has attracted significant research and commercial interest due to its content in bioactive compounds beneficial to human health and the relative ease of cultivation under laboratory conditions. However, room for improvement exists in the commercial-scale cultivation of C. militaris and concerns issues principally related to appropriate strain selection, genetic degeneration of cultures, and substrate optimization. In particular, culture degeneration—usually expressed by abnormal fruit body formation and reduced sporulation—results in important economic losses and is holding back investors and potential growers (mainly in Western countries) from further developing this highly promising sector. In the present review, the main factors that influence the generation of biomass and metabolites (with emphasis on cordycepin biosynthesis) by C. militaris are presented and evaluated in conjunction with the use of a wide range of supplements or additives towards the enhancement of fungal productivity in large-scale cultivation processes. Moreover, physiological and genetic factors that increase or reduce the manifestation of strain degeneration in C. militaris are outlined. Finally, methodologies for developing protocols to be used in C. militaris functional biology studies are discussed.

scholarly journals Yartsagunbu: transforming people's livelihoods in the Western Himalaya

Oryx ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pramod Kumar Yadav ◽  
Subhajit Saha ◽  
Ashish Kumar Mishra ◽  
Mohnish Kapoor ◽  
Manendra Kaneria ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Western Himalaya ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Cash Income ◽  
Social Challenges ◽  
Ophiocordyceps Sinensis ◽  
Local Livelihoods ◽  
Caterpillar Fungus

AbstractRural communities in developing countries extract provisioning ecosystem services from the natural environment to meet their subsistence needs, generate cash income and create employment opportunities. Caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis, known as yartsagunbu in Tibet and in the literature on this subject, is a medicinal resource extracted by the mountain communities of the Himalaya. Studies of the contribution of the fungus to local livelihoods in the Indian Himalaya are scarce. We investigated trade and harvest and analysed the contribution of caterpillar fungus to household economies in 32 villages in Dhauliganga Valley, Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, in the Western Himalaya. Caterpillar fungus harvesting has become an integral part of local livelihoods in the study area, and on average contributes c. 74% of household cash income. The majority of harvesters perceived that harvesting had become more difficult during 2010–2015 as a result of competition and a decline in abundance of the species. The mean annual per capita harvest declined by 54 pieces during 2011–2015. Increasing harvesting and trade, coupled with the dependency of local communities on the fungus, may result in greater extraction of the resource for short-term economic benefits, and could eventually lead to depletion and ecological damage. Harvesting of the fungus has already created environmental, legal and social challenges, although it has become a lucrative livelihood opportunity. The ongoing decline of the fungus threatens local livelihoods. Good governance and livelihood security should be integrated with biodiversity conservation when devising government policies and plans for sustainable management of the caterpillar fungus.

scholarly journals Economic dependence of mountain communities on Chinese caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis (yarsagumba): a case from western Nepal

Oryx ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 256-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uttam Babu Shrestha ◽  
Krishna Ram Dhital ◽  
Ambika Prasad Gautam
Keyword(s):  
Resource Depletion ◽  
Poor People ◽  
Cash Income ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Mountain Communities ◽  
Ophiocordyceps Sinensis ◽  
Local Livelihoods ◽  
Caterpillar Fungus ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Annual Decline

AbstractProducts obtained from forests or other natural environments play a crucial role in sustaining the livelihoods of poor people in developing countries through income generation and the creation of employment opportunities. Although studies have been carried out to evaluate the dependence of local livelihoods on environmental products, quantify the linkage between poverty and biodiversity, and assess the impacts of resource depletion on household economics, most have been focused geographically on the tropics. Our study was conducted in the mountain village of Jumla, Nepal, to quantify the economic contribution of Chinese caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis (yarsagumba) to local households. Income from yarsagumba accounted for up to 65% of the total household cash income, on average, and its contribution was highest in the poorest households. It contributed to reducing income inequality by 38%, and the income was utilized to purchase food and clothes, celebrate festivals, pay for medical treatment and children's education, and for savings. There was a mean annual decline of 25 pieces in the per capita harvest of yarsagumba during 2010–2014. However, the decline had no adverse impact on household income, as the price increased.

scholarly journals Missing pieces in the story of a caterpillar fungus — Ophiocordyceps sinensis

IMA Fungus ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. A75-A77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siran Liang
Keyword(s):  
Life Story ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Cordyceps Sinensis ◽  
Ophiocordyceps Sinensis ◽  
Medicinal Value ◽  
Caterpillar Fungus ◽  
The Veil ◽  
Harsh Climate ◽  
Aluminum Cans

Abstract Ophiocordyceps sinensis (syn. Cordyceps sinensis) is a peculiar caterpillar fungus. It is not only known for its extraordinary medicinal values, which cover a wide spectrum of illnesses ranging from fatigue to cancer, but also for its fascinating life-story (Yeh & Lama 2013). Unlike many medicinal products, advertisements for “Cordyceps” do not solely promote its medicinal value, but also the origin of its production. Retailers often employ snowy mountains, Tibetan script, Tibetan people, blue sky and green meadows to advertise their products. Te imagined geography delivers a message to consumers that it is a natural wonder that comes from a Xanadu, a distant, exotic, untouched and unpolluted place. Te description of its production site is not meant to deceive the consumers, but it is only one piece of the story. Behind the veil of Ophiocordyceps commodification, we see missing pieces from a personal experience during a two-month-long field research in the eastern Tibetan region in summer 2018: Tibetan harvesters, a harsh climate, the declining Ophiocordyceps populations, plastic packaging and aluminum cans loitering the meadows. All these are also part of the production story.

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